“My splitter was working best today, then the curve and slider,” Bowman said. “My fastball command came and went as the game went along, but everything was working pretty well.”

Bowman is slight (6′, 170 lbs), a four-pitch college right-hander whose delivery looks like a toned-done version of Tim Lincecum’s with a rock back at the top of his motion. He’s of a type with Greg Peavey and Logan Verrett in the Mets’ system, although perhaps a bit more deceptive.

SS Brandon Hickswas 2-for-4 with a double in his first rehab start for St. Lucie.

The ‘Dogs used two singles and a sacrifice fly to score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth off Gnats’ reliever Beck Wheeler.

RHP Gabriel Ynoa, who has been hittable in recent outings, was better: 6.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K. The box score credits Ynoa, who will not turn 20 for another 11 days, with 74% strikes (64 of 87 pitches). Ynoa, who has a K/BB of 5.3 (37 K/7 BB in 39.2 IP) is the Gnats’ best pitching prospect not named Steven Matz.

Maikis De La Cruz, who was added to the Gnats’ outfield with Brandon Nimmo on the shelf with a bruised hand was 2-for-5 with a pair of strikeouts. De La Cruz has hit safely in each of his sis games in a Gnats’ uniform (9-for-23 with 1 double). He’s 22 and hitting singles while playing corner outfield in a-ball. That beats some alternatives (like: not hitting singles). He’s played a nice right field, deferring to Eudy Pina in center, but I thought there was a little more pure speed than he showed in his first few games in Savannah.

DH Kevin Plawecki (pictured) was 1-for-4 with a triple, his first of 2013. The 22-year-old Plawecki has now reached base in 25 straight games while hitting .374/.441/.649 for 35 games this year. He’s #1 in the SAL in AVG, and doubles (19), fourth in OBP, and #2 in SLG. The bat is overdue for a promotion to advanced-A.